Most people tend to gain extra weight around the holidays and although understandable, we hate ourselves for it in the morning. The holidays come only once a year. We go out of our way to prepare for it and invite family and friends to celebrate with. There is no reason why you cannot enjoy some holiday cooking without sabotaging your diet.

Here are some simple steps to follow to avoid gaining weight over the holiday season:

*Eat anything that you want. Just be sure to eat small portions. You can safely sample a little bit of everything, but do not overdo it.

*Be sure to exercise faithfully over the holiday months. This is not a time to be slacking in the exercise department. You may get away with it at other times of the year, but the holiday temptations will catch up to you and it will show on the scale.

*Get in some extra fitness time if at all possible. Schedule it into your plans and make it a priority. Instead of exercising 3 times a week, plan to exercise 5 times a week.

*Take it easy the week before Thanksgiving and Christmas. Try to cut out any snacking.

By following the simple steps above you should be able to avoid gaining weight over the holidays. Just remember that if you are tempted to overeat your clothes will not fit right and the numbers will show up on the scale. We all know how awful that feels.

So many people are hungry in our world. Some people never had much in terms of materialistic items and food to begin with. Other people lived the “American Dream” and had it all, so they thought, and then they lost their jobs. Slowly they lost other things as well in their lives.

Feeding America is a non-profit organization that helps to feed millions of people each year. Help someone else that is less fortunate than you are this holiday season. Give to others who do not have. Bless someone’s life and share with them what you have been blessed to have. Do unto others, especially now during our holiday season.

For more information visit http://feedingamerica.org/.

I am more consciously aware of my body and fighting back. I am a rebel at times and will not be defeated (at least not without a struggle). I am eating healthier and exercising more often.

Vegetables are great and filling. You cannot go wrong there, so eat away vegetable lovers!  Fruit is excellent for you as well. For those of you with a sweet tooth you can even pretend that fruit is like candy. (Okay, maybe not like candy, but sweeter than vegetables.)

I was never a huge fan of yogurt, but could eat it happily for a few days out of the week. About two months ago, at the urging of my niece, I decided to try a popular fast food restaurants yogurt parfait and let me tell you, it was delicious and only 160 calories. I am sold on this and whenever I need something sweet I grab one of these healthy, but sweet treats!

photo credit: Siege N. Gin

Not too long ago, maybe about a year now, I have become quite fond of another hot beverage. To say that this hot, delicious beverage is good is an understatement. It is way past good, even shooting for the super fantastic category. French vanilla cappuccinos are in a league all of their own. There is one particular food chain that surpasses all others in my book. I am sure that I do not even have to mention names, but if you have not tried one of theirs, you must.

While looking for a recipe that will squelch my thirst for one of these things when I cannot get out I found this (http://www.recipezaar.com/French-Vanilla-Cappuccino-264750) recipe. I cannot vouch for this myself as I have not tried it yet, but I will. From all of the rave reviews that I am seeing, however, I am getting anxious to make one.

photo credit: Ewan-M

Mom jeans are the high-waisted jeans that taper at the ankle. The zippers on them are quite long, say about 8 or 9 inches. They were popular, but not very attractive unless you had a flat tummy. For one thing they tend to show your front essentials quite distinctively since they are pulled up so high. The derriere is also unattractive in these, as they tend to flatten out the curves that some women possess. They were often seen in cahoots with a thin belt.

Young girls wore them back then….us. Some of us never gave them up as fashion changed. It is true that some people are creatures of habit and we find change difficult. I finally gave up my mom jeans a few years back, but it took getting used to. I have to admit that the jeans that I wear now are a lot more comfortable. However, make sure that you are wearing the right underwear or else you will be the topic of another discussion that is quite popular.

photo credit: sam shot-put-ski

The main symptoms of the H1N1 virus are headache, sore throat, coughing, fever, stuffed up or runny nose, chills, fatigue, body aches and pains, diarrhea and sometimes vomiting. Children, young adults, the elderly and persons in a “high-risk” category are most affected by this new virus.

To help protect you and your loved ones against this virus there are steps that you can take to help decrease your chances of contracting this virus. Some simple health measures include:

• Staying home and away from crowds if you are ill.
• Avoiding people who are ill.
• Avoid touching your face including your eyes, mouth and nose.
• Wash hands frequently or use an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
• See your physician as soon as possible if you suspect that you are ill.

A H1N1 vaccine is available for those interested in receiving one. You should contact your physician for more information.

This movie is about a couple on the brink of divorce. The husband, played by Kirk Cameron, is insensitive and self-absorbed. He is a hero in his work as a fireman, but not a very pleasant man to come home to.

The wife, played by Erin Bethea, is heartbroken and wants to end their marriage. She then begins to form a relationship with a flirtatious doctor at work, which only complicates things of course.

Cameron’s movie father tells his son to give it 40 days and hands him a book on how to save his marriage. By doing little thoughtful things each day for your partner you will strengthen your marriage. This book has a day-by-day, to-do list of meaningful and loving gestures that is giving of yourself to your partner.

During this time a very confused Cameron accepts Christ into his life. At first these things do not impress Catherine (Bethea). Eventually after realizing that her husband is changing she turns around. The ending is remarkable with Catherine coming to her husband and telling him what he means to her. She also, impressed with his change, questions him and he tells her about Christ.

Fireproof

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Retail Price: $28.96

Amazon Price: $17.99

This wonderful movie has an important message for couples. The power of Christ is what makes the difference.

Because this is such a personal aspect of people’s lives many are hesitant and do not pray together. Even amongst Christian’s it was surprising to me to learn that according to FamilyLife, a well-known ministry group, less than 8 percent of Christian couples pray together. That figure blew me away. According to FamilyLife, the main reason that was cited was that they never realized that it was that important to their marriage. Studied also in this group were divorce rates in just Christian couples only. Divorce rate in this group was 27 percent in couples who do not pray together. The couples who pray together have a less than one percent divorce rate.

Praying together is a winner hands down. It is the way that God wants our relationships with our loved ones to be. Praying together takes humility, which everyone is capable of.

How To Get Started:

• Come together and discuss these statistics. Discuss the importance of this in your relationship. Both parties need to agree on this.
• Some time during the course of your day, find a quiet spot to pray together.
• Take turns praying aloud. Try not to feel uncomfortable. This is your mate who knows everything about you and loves you.
• Pray for your family, pray for yours and your mate’s walk with God, strength, courage, your mate’s struggles and your marriage.
• After both of you have prayed remember to thank and praise Him.
• Thank your mate for doing this with you.

This will likely be difficult the first few times, but will get easier. The bond that this creates, however, is well worth every bit of uneasiness. Spiritually powerful and glorious in His eyes, this is what every relationship needs.

photo credit: Daniel Leininger

Mama, If You Had a Wish

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Retail Price: $5.99

Amazon Price: $5.00

This is a must have on your bookshelf. I remember the first time that I read this book to my child he smiled the whole way through it. The combination of Robin Spowart’s illustrations and Jeanne Modesitt’s story make this book gentle and touching. Even though we tell our children and show our children how much we love them every day, they sometimes need to know and hear that our love is unchangeable no matter what. They need to know that in the eyes of the people that are closest to them they are accepted and loved just the same. This story is best for ages 3-6.

Whisk your loved one away to a Treehouse Cottage! These cottages are unbelievably romantic. They are 22 feet off the ground nestled in the surrounding forest. Even though you feel like you are far away from everything you will discover that civilization, should you decide to leave your little bungalow, is not too far off.

This treehouse includes everything that you two will need. The bedroom, sitting area and kitchen are all equipped with the necessities. The Jacuzzi’s in these treehouses overlook the scenic outdoors. There is also cable TV, DVD, CD and Wifi. You can talk the night away in front of your fireplace or gaze into the sky together while sitting on the deck. Visit Treehouse Cottages at http://www.treehousecottages.com/ and plan your vacation getaway with your sweetheart.

Treehouse Cottages and their owners have been given rave reviews. A little far away for me, but someday that is where I will hideaway.

photo credit: Justin S. Campbell